The public is invited to several Memorial Day ceremonies planned for Monday, May 28.

In Martinez, observances will take place at 9 a.m. at the Alhambra Cemetery, located on Carquinez Drive, and at 10 a.m. at the All Veterans Monument, at the corner of Alhambra Avenue and Berrellesa Street. For information, call Martinez Recreation at 925-372-3510.

In Pleasant Hill, a ceremony will be held at 1 p.m. at the Soldiers Monument at the corner of Boyd Road and Contra Costa Boulevard. Army Sgt. Joey Bozik, a veteran of service in Iraq and triple amputee, will give the Memorial Day address. Participating Contra Costa County organizations include 11 American Legion posts, eight Veterans of Foreign Wars posts and seven other veterans groups, plus Sea Cadet corps, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. Guests will include elected officials from Concord, Martinez, Pleasant Hill and Pittsburg, along with the county and state representatives.

CERT training

The Pleasant Hill Police Department and the Contra Costa Fire District are offering Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training to residents so they can assist their neighbors needing help following a disastrous event. Training will be provided by the fire district, members of the sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team, and trained CERT instructors from the community. The six-night program gives instruction in disaster preparedness, fire safety and fire suppression, first aid, medical functions in a disaster environment, light search and rescue techniques, and disaster psychology. Classes will be held from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesdays, beginning June 5, at the fire district’s Fire College, 2945 Treat Blvd., Concord. To apply for the training, visit http://www.pleasanthill.ca.gov or http://www.pleasanthillpd.com. For information, call Lt. Peter Enea at 925-288-4633 or Jim Bonato at 925-938-5433.

Dreyer’s dishes ice cream

Ice cream lovers are invited to nominate their neighborhoods for a chance to win enough ice cream and fixings to host a block party for up to 100 neighbors this summer as part of the third annual Dreyer’s Slow Churned Neighborhood Salute. Residents can visit http://www.icecream.com and submit a paragraph explaining why their neighborhood deserves an “ice cream salute.” Participants must be residents of the United States and be at least 13 years old. Contest rules and entry forms are available on the Web site and all entries must be received by May 25. Winners will be notified in June and receive a Dreyer’s Slow Churned prize package in July and August.

Be a teen library volunteer

The Martinez Library is looking for teens to help the library staff with its summer reading program — Get a Clue @ the Library. Volunteers will help prepare program materials, help with events and assist library staff members. Teens must be dependable and responsible, and must be entering at least ninth grade in the fall. Volunteers are asked to commit to a minimum of 12 hours from June through August. Those interested must fill out an application available at the library, at 740 Court St. Call 925-646-2898.

County fair ‘Idol’

The Contra Costa County Fair is having its second annual Idol contest to spotlight talented local vocalists. The application deadline is 5 p.m. May 24. The event is open to residents ages 15-28. Contestants must bring their own back-up music in the form of a CD. The fair will provide the CD player and sound system. Contestants must sing a different song for each stage of the contest. The preliminaries will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 31, on the fairgrounds community stage, 1201 W. 10th St., Antioch. A maximum of 10 finalists will be chosen to perform at the final competition at 6 p.m. Saturday, June 2. A three-person panel will judge the performers in vocal talent (including ability and presentation), stage presence and entertainment appeal. The panel will include local personalities and music professionals. The winner may be eligible to compete in the State Fair Star Talent Search to be held Saturday, Sept. 1, at the California State Fair. Contestants can pick up an application from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the fair office, or call 925-757-4400. Completed applications must be returned to the fair office by 5 p.m. Thursday, May 24.